Device for elevating as well as tipping or tilting drums, barrels, containers, and the like

ABSTRACT

A device for elevating, as well as for tipping or tilting drums, containers and the like for dumping the contents therefrom, which device includes an upright or post supported on a base and a carriage member slidable on the upright and operated by means of a winch which raises and lowers the carriage member on the upright. The carriage supports a rotatable pulley which carries article-gripping means for engaging the drum container or the like, the article-gripping means is hydraulically adjustable so that the drum or article may be tightly gripped during the elevation thereof and also during the tipping or the tilting thereof. The hydraulic gripping means is provided with a safety valve to prevent premature release of the drum or article gripped thereby.

United States Patent Inventor Howard H. Vermette 7/1956 Schroeder214/652 No. 7 l43rd ST.. Hammond. Ind. 46320 2.904.202 9/1959 Brady214/653 [21] Appl. No. 874,007 3.147.872 9/1964 Olson 214/652 [22] FiledNov.4. 1969 3.199.698 8/1965 Schuster l l. 214/653 [45] Patented Nov.30.1971 3.363.929 1/1968 Nelson 294/88 3.522.893 8/1970 Yokich 214/313Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay ASA/SIG"! Examiner- Lawrence J Oresky[54] DEVICE FOR ELEVATING AS WELL AS TIPPING Kmus R TILTING DRUMS.BARRELS, CONTAINERS. AND THE LIKE Claims. 11 Drawing Figs. ABSTRACT: Adevice for elevating. as well as for tipping or tilting drums.containers and the like for dumping the contents [52] cl fi m therefrom.which device includes an upright or post supported Cl 860 04 on a baseand a carriage member slidable on the upright and [51 I i 215/652operated by means ofa winch which raises and lowers the carheld 0 3 l294/88 riage member on the upright The carriage supports a rotatablepulley which carries article-gripping means for engaging [56] RefenncesCited ah; drulrn tilontzzjinei; the lite} tllli1e article-grippingmeansbis y rau|ca y a jUSa e so a e rum or arlce may e UNITED STATESPATENTS tightly gripped during the elevation thereof and also during 2 312/1941 Ripe 214/313 the tipping or the tilting thereof. The hydraulicgripping means is provided with a safety valve to prevent prematurerelease of the drum or article gripped thereby.

H W I00 I19 U6 7/5 /43 3/3 3% 3 305; J: r

56' 4w 9 \l y|l I 4 9 '4, 1 4 M 41- 1 -r '-1 g I77 4123 V :1 18.9 l :IUOJ/ [I i Iii-"293 "475 3/0 E l 1 I 3/ 'I= l 3/3 1 ll s. I l 0 ID 0 :F:

l l 7 o l \A\ 1 t I: "F at: "5| 44 310' :-,1 475 5/3 324 450 i .325 II5? 161 pg 1 66 l l l 1 t 333/ "T l l I \I 4 792 l 4/5 I 762. 2 L I77 37l l 'n. 4/10 1% 44l 78 4/9 1 0 l5 ,i r' I i il NW 1' l ll/WN V44 151rnggg a 44 1 I64 i' g a my I 33 44 I 4 I /7)l J I .435 I, 29:11; i 45] l454 3 52 Mil 1oz l 6 .22 I Ill-An f I w 707 l "11 I05 i 704 'l l as a lg 06 emma- PATENTEDNUV 30 1971 SHEET 2 [1F 6 PATENTEnuuv 30 |97| 3,623.620

sum u or 6 FIG. 6

DEVICE FOR ELEVATING AS WELL AS TIPPING R TILTING DRUMS, BARRELS,CONTAINERS, AND THE LIKE This is an improvement over my copendingapplication, Ser. No. 760,767 filed on Sept. 19, 1968 for a DEVICE FORELEVATING, AS WELL AS TIPPING OR TILTING DRUMS, BARRELS, CONTAINERS, ANDTHE LIKE TO DUMP TI-IE CONTENTS TI-IEREFROM, the application thereinbeing incorporated herein by reference.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the presentinvention is to provide a device for lifting and tilting or tippingarticles, the device comprising a base, an upright supported on thebase, a carriage member slidable on the upright for up and down slidingmovement therealong, an article-gripping member connected to thecarriage, the gripping member being hydraulically adjustable securely togrip the article, motor mechanism connected to the carriage for raisingand lowering the carriage and the article-gripping member and means fortilting or tipping the article-gripping member and the article grippedthereby.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type setforth in which the article-gripping member includes two jaws pivotablebetween a drum-receiving position and a drum-gripping position andhydraulic motor means for moving at least one of the jaws into thedrum-gripping position, thereby securely to grip and substantially toencircle the drum.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of thetype set forth in which a safety valve is associated with the hydraulicmotor means for preventing premature release of the jaws from thedrum-gripping position, thereby to prevent unintentional release of thedrum when the drum is elevated off of the ground.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a deviceof the type set forth in which one of the jaws is pivotable between adrum-receiving position and a drum-gripping position and is mounted on amovable arm, and the other jaw is pivotable between a drum-receivingposition and a drumgripping position and is mounted on a fixed arm, bothof the arms being mounted on the carriage member and adapted for up anddown sliding movement therewith along the upright.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following specification taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofthe device of this invention showing a drum positioned on the groundready to be gripped and a phantom view of the drum elevated above theground and rotated 90 from the vertical;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view with the jaws in a drumreceivingposition and a phantom view of the drum gripped by the jaws and rotatedabout 45from the vertical;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view particularly showing the springbiasing arrangement for the arms;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the jaws in the drum-receiving position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the jaws in the drum-gripping position anda phantom view showing the drum rotated 90 from the vertical;

FIG. 6 is a side view partly in section particularly showing thehydraulic system in relation to the carriage;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the hydraulic system;

FIG. 8 is a top view partly in section particularly showing thehydraulic system in relation to the upright;

FIG. 9 is a top view partly in section showing the roller means disposedabout the central upright;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the large pulley and theassociated hydraulic system; and

FIG. II is an enlarged elevational view of activating mechanism for thecontrol valve.

The device 100 for lifting and tipping or tilting articles includes acarriage I50 adapted to slide up and down an upright 110, the carriageI50 carrying thereon a pulley I adapted for rotational movement withrespect to the carriage 150, the pulley 185 and the carriage I50carrying a hydraulic system 225 for controlling two arms 380 and 410,the arm 380 being movable between an article-gripping position and anarticlereceiving position, the arms 380 and 410 carrying at therespective ends thereof and pivotable therewith a jaw 400 and a jaw 440respectively, each jaw being pivotable between an article-receivingposition and an article-gripping position.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the device further includes twospaced-apart parallel legs 102 interconnected by a crosspiece 103, thelegs 102 and the crosspiece 103 being formed of hollow square-shapedmembers, the legs 102 forward of the crosspiece 103, to the right asviewed in FIG. 4, defining therebetween a space for receiving anarticle. Disposed on the top of each leg 102 at a point slightly forwardof the crosspiece 103 is an eyelet 104, each of the eyelets 104 beingfor a purpose hereinafter explained; the legs 102 are further providedwith at each end thereof caster assemblies 105 for moving the device 100from place to place, the caster assemblies 105 each include a wheel 106housed within a U- shaped carrier 107, the wheels 106 each beingrotatably mounted on an axle I08 suitably journaled in the U-shapedcarriers 107, the caster assemblies 105 further including a wheel lock109 for locking the wheels I06 thereby to prevent movement of the device100.

The device I00 also includes an upright 110, the upright 110 beingsuitably secured substantially to the middle of the crosspiece 103, suchas by welding, and extending upward vertically therefrom, the uprightI10 being hollow and squareshaped in cross section and formed oftelescoping and interlocking sections. At the top of the upright 110there is provided an outrigger 115, the outrigger being suitably securedto the upright 110, such as by welding, the outrigger 115 including twoboomerang-shaped anns 1I6 extending generally parallel to the crosspiece103 of the base 101, each of the arms 116 having at the outer endthereof a cable grip 117, the outrigger IIS and cable grip 117 all for apurpose hereinafter to be explained. Interconnecting the upper end ofthe upright I10 and the outrigger IIS is a collar 118 and extensionmember 119, the extension member 119 extending vertically from thecollar I18 coaxially with the upright I10.

Connected to the extension member 119 is a small pulley rotatablymounted on an axle 126, the axle 126 extending through a suitableaperture in the extension member I19 and being fastened therein by nuts127, and a pulley cover 128 is positioned over the pulley 125 to protectthe pulley 125 and to maintain thereon the associated cable, ashereinafter explained. Extending transversely of the upright lI0 belowthe collar 118 to the left, as seen in FIG. 2, is a stub shaft 130, thestub shaft 130 supporting for rotation thereabout a pulley 131. Disposedbelow the pulley 131 around the upright 110 is a valve-release bracketI34, the valve-release bracket 134 being clamped to the upright 110 andadapted for longitudinal movement therealong.

As seen in FIG. 2, secured to the crosspiece 103 of the base I01adjacent to the upright 110 is a pulley bracket 135 having mountedtherein an axle 136 for supporting a pulley 137, the pulley 137 beingrotatably mounted on the axle 136, the pulley 137 being in verticalalignment with the pulley 131, all for a purpose hereinafter explained.The upright IIO is further provided at the bottom thereof with a stopplate I40, the stop plate 140 being L-shaped and being suitably securedsuch as by clamping to the upright 110. There also are provided twocables 143, each connecting one of the cable grips 117 at the outer endsof the boomerang-shaped arms 116 with the respective one of the eyelets104 by means of a hook I05 and turnbuckle I44, the turnbuckle I44serving to connect the hook disposed in the eyelet 104 with the cable143 and providing for adjustment of the length thereof, the cables I43to provide stability to the device 100 against tipping thereof and alsoto provide support for the upright I I0.

The device 100 is further provided with a carriage 150 for up and downsliding movement along the upright 110, the carriage 150 including, asbest seen in FIGS. 5, 8 and 10, two longitudinally extendingspaced-apart side plates 151 interconnected by a front plate 152 havingtherein a central aperture 158, the sideplates 151 have at the top edgethereof and integral therewith inwardly extending top flanges 153 andalso the sideplates 151 each have at the bottom edge thereof andintegral therewith inwardly extending bottom flange 154. The top flanges153 and the bottom flanges 154 are parallel and generally transverse tothe longitudinal axis of upright 110. The top flanges 153 each have onthe inner edge thereof a downwardly extending abutment flange 155, theabutment flange 155 being spaced apart a distance slightly greater thana side of the upright 110. The bottom flanges 154 each have on the inneredge thereof an upwardly extending abutment flange 156, the abutmentflange 156 being spaced apart the same distance as the abutment flanges155, all to facilitate sliding movement of the carriage 150 along theupright 110. The carriage is further provided with a plate guide 157extending between the sidewalls 151 and abutting the top flanges 153,the plate guide being spaced at a predetermined distance from the rearof the carriage 150 to position the carriage 150 about the upright 110.

The carriage 150 is further provided with two guide blocks 161 suitablyattached to the abutment flanges 156 and two top guide rollers 162 eachsuitably supported on a stub shaft 163 connected by fasteners 164 to anassociated one of the abutment flanges 155. The carriage 150 is furtherprovided with two circular flanges 166, each suitably secured to arespective one of the top flanges 153, the circular flanges 166 eachsupporting therein a top side roller 167 rotatably mounted on an axle168 and fixed against lateral movement therealong by suitable fasteners169. The top guide rollers 162 and the top side rollers 167 facilitatingthe up and down sliding movement of the carriage 150 of the upright 110,the plate guide 157 and the guide blocks 161 providing for alignment andpositioning of the carriage 150 on the upright 110. There are alsoprovided two spaced-apart circular bottom flanges 171, each suitablysecured to a respective one of the bottom flanges 154, the circularflanges 171 each supporting therein a bottom side roller 172 rotatablymounted on an axle 173 and fixed against lateral movement therealong bysuitable fasteners 174. The bottom side rollers 172 each facilitatingthe up and down sliding movement of the carriage 150 along the upright110. There is also connected to he carriage 150 on the exterior of theright-hand sideplate 151, as seen in FIG. 1, a stop plate 177 pivotallysupported by a fastener 179, the stop plate 177 being pivotable into andout of an operative position, all for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The device 100 is further provided with a pulley 185 for providingtilting or tipping action, the pulley 185 is generally in the form of awheel rim, the rim being channel-shaped in cross section and having twospaced-apart upstanding sidewalls 186 and an upstanding flange 187disposed therebetween, the sidewalls 186 and upstanding flange 187 areinterconnected by a bottom wall 188, the sidewalls 186, flange 187 andbottom wall 188 cooperating to form two channels to accommodate tippingor tilting as hereinafter illustrated. Extending outwardly from thepulley 185 is a stop member 189, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the stopmember 189 extending transversely to the plane of the pulley 185 andcontracting the stop plate 177 when the stop plate is in its operativeposition, the stop member 189 and stop plate 177 cooperating to positionthe pulley 185 in a predetermined angular position, as later explained.

The pulley 185 is further provided with a support frame 190, as bestseen in FIGS. 4 to I, the support frame 190 being I-I-shaped and havingtwo parallel spaced-apart plates 191 extending forward of the pulley185, each of the plates 191 forming a chord of the circle defined by thepulley 185, and each of the plates 191 being suitably secured to thepulley 185 such as by welding. Each of the spaced-apart plates 191 haveon the outer ends thereof outwardly extending attachment portions orarms 192, each plate 191 having two arms 192 extending forwardly anddiagonally outwardly of the pulley 185, each arm 192 having an aperture193 at the outermost end thereof. The spaced-apart plates 191 of thesupport frame 190 have a crosspiece 194 transversely disposed withrespect to the plates 191 and interconnecting the rear edges of theplates 191, the crosspiece 194 having a substantial thickness comparedto the plates 191. The crosspiece 194 has therein an aperture 196, theaperture 196 being formed at the center of the crosspiece 194 and havingthe inner corners of the crosspiece 194 forming the aPerture 196 beveledto form arcuate edges respectively forming an outer ball race 197 and aninner ball race 198, the outer ball race 197 and the inner ball race198, being for a purpose hereinafter explained.

interconnecting the front edges of the plates 191 is a drum support 290,the support 290 being transversely disposed with respect to thespaced-apart plates 191, and including a transversely disposedattachment plate 291 having an offset central portion 292 formed into anarcuate surface 293, the drum support 290 serving to connect the plates191 and also being for a purpose hereinafter explained.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 8, associated with the pulley 185 is an innerannular plate 200, the inner annular plate 200 having therein anaperture 201 and surrounding the aperture 201 a flat central portion202, the plate 200 further including an oil"- set portion 203 suitablyconnected to the sideplates 151 and front plate 152 of the carriage 150,such as by welding, and extending beyond the sideplates 151, as alsoseen in FIG. 10, the offset portion 203 of the inner annular plate 200being in re gistry with the aperture 158 in the front plate 152 of thecarriage 150. The offset portion 203 of the inner annular plate 200forms with the flat central portion 202 an inner ball race 204, theinner ball race 204 cooperating with the outer ball race 197 of thecrosspiece 194 as hereinafter explained.

There is further provided an outer annular plate 210 as sociated withthe pulley 185, the outer annular plate 210 having therein an aperture211 and surrounding the aperture 211 a flat central portion 212, theplate 210 further including an offset portion 213, the offset portion213 being spaced outwardly from the flat portion 212 and forming withthe flat portion 212 outer ball races 214. The aperture 211 of the outerannular plate 210 is in registry with the aperture 201 of the innerannular plate 200 and the aperture 158 of the front plate 152 of thecarriage 150. A flat annular plate 216 is disposed between the innerannular plate 200 and the outer annular plate 210 and connected theretowith suitable nuts and bolts 217 passing through appropriate aperturesin the plates 200, 210, and 216. There are a plurality of ball bearings219 disposed between the outer ball race 197 of the crosspiece 194 andthe inner ball race 204 of the inner annular plate 200 and also disposedbetween the inner ball race 198 of the crosspiece 194 and the outer ballrace 124 of the outer annular plate 210, thereby to provide rotationalmovement of the pulley 185 with respect to the carriage 150, it beingseen that the annular plates 200 and 210 are fixed against rotationalmovement with respect to the carriage but the pulley is free to movethereabout.

There is also shown, as seen in FIGS. 6 to 8 and 10, a hydraulic system225, the hydraulic system 225 including a vertically disposed,nonrotatably cylinder 230 positioned between the front plate 152 of thecarriage 150 and the upright 110. The cylinder 230 has therein a bottomblock 231 for sealing the bottom of the cylinder 230 and carryingtherein an O-ring 232, thereby to prevent escape of hydraulic fluid fromthe cylinder. The cylinder 230 and the bottom block 231 rest on a bottomplate 251 which has connected thereto two spaced-apart verticallydownwardly extending flanges 234 housing therebetween a roller 235rotatably mounted on an axle 236 suitably connected to the flanges 234and secured against axial movement by suitable fasteners 237.

The hydraulic system 225 further includes a housing 240 through whichthe fluids from the cylinder 230 are transmitted, the cylinder beingconnected to the housing 240 by two tie rods 252 extending from thebottom plate 251 of the housing 240, the tie rods 252 are fastened bynuts 253. The housing 240 extends transversely of the cylinder 230 andis rectangular in cross section rearward of the inner annular plate 200but circular in cross section forward of the plate 200, the housing 240having an aperture 241 extending centrally thereof and having a plug 242at the terminal end of the aperture 241 to prevent the escape ofhydraulic fluid therefrom. The housing 240 has at the distal end thereoffrom the cylinder 230 a cross aperture 243, the cross-aperture 243 beingtransverse to the central aperture 241 and interconnected therewith. Thecross-aperture 243 extends completely through the housing 240 which hereis circular in cross section and terminates in a circular groove 243Aextending completely around the periphery of the housing 240.

The housing 240 also has a threaded portion 246 spaced about theperiphery thereof intermediate the aperture 243 and the outer annularplate 210 for cooperation with a nut 247 and a washer 248, the washer248 being positioned between the nut 247 and the outer annular plate 210to facilitate rotation of the pulley 185 and the parts carried therebywith respect to the housing 240. The housing 240 is further providedwith offset portions 249 abutting the inner annular plate 200 and issuitably secured thereto such as by welding, thereby to prevent rotationof the inner annular plate 200 and the outer annular plate 210 uponrotation of the pulley 185.

An oil feed assembly 255 includes a vertical pipe 256 spaced from and tothe side of the cylinder 230, the pipe 256 being suitably connected tothe housing 240 and sealed against leakage therefrom by seals 257, apassageway 258 provides communication between the pipe 256 and thecylinder 230, the passageway 258 being in registry with an aperture 259in the cylinder 230, thereby to provide communication between the oilfeed assembly 255 and the cylinder 230, the oil feed assembly 255 beingfurther provided with a cap 261 adapted to fit over the pipe 256 toprevent leakage of hydraulic fluid therefrom.

As particularly seen in FIG. 8, the hydraulic system 225 furtherincludes a safety valve 265, the valve 265 comprising a rod 266 passingthrough the housing 240 having a square cross section intermediate thecylinder 230 and the inner annular plate 200, the valve 265 includingtwo spaced-apart Orings 267 for preventing the escape of hydraulic fluidthrough the housing 240, the rod 266 having an aperture 268 extendingtransversely therethrough, the aperture 268 being so positioned in therod 266 to complete the passageway between the cylinder 230 and thecentral aperture 241 in the housing 240 when the valve 265 is in theoperative position. When the valve 265 is out of the operative position,the aperture 168 is moved or rotated from registry with the aperture 241in the housing 240 to prevent hydraulic fluid from passing through thevalve 265 and thereby from passing between the cylinder 230 and thehousing 240.

The valve 265 further includes an attachment plate 269 and nut thereforfor maintaining the rod 266 within the housing 240 and on the oppositeend of the rod 266 within the housing 240 and on the opposite end of therod 266 a gear segment 271, as particularly seen in FIG. 11, the gearsegment 271 being in the form ofa pie-shaped member having on the distalend thereof a plurality of gear teeth 272, the gear segment 271 beingsuitably secured to the valve 265 by means of a bolt 273, see also FIG.10. The valve 265 is associated with a shaft 275 positioned on a pullcord 276, the cord 276 extending upwardly and downwardly to form anendless belt over the associated pulleys 131 and 137, the pull cordbeing connected by fasteners 277 to the shaft 275. The shaft 275 carriesthereon a cylindrical member 280, the cylindrical member 280 havingthereon and thereabout circular flanges 281 longitudinally spaced apart,the cylindrical member 280 being fixedly secured to the shaft 275 bymeans of setscrews 282, the gear segment 271 and the member 280cooperating in a manner hereinafter explained. The shaft 275 carriesnear the bottom thereof a stop pin 285 extending transversely of theshaft 275, the pin 285 serving to position the cylindrical member 280 ina predetermined vertical relationship with the housing 240, thereby tomove the valve 265 into or out of the operative position, all ashereinafter explained.

With reference now to the cylinder 230, there is shown therein a piston300, the piston 300 carries in a circular groove therearound an O-ringfor sealing hydraulic fluid within the cylinder 230 thereby to causemovement of the fluid in response to movement of the piston 300.Connected to the piston 300 is a vertically disposed cylindrical shaft302 extending vertically upward from the piston 300. Connected to top ofthe cylinder 230 and the housing 240. Fixedly and securely attached tothe shaft 302 is a piston cable 305 by means of a connector 303, thecable 305 extending upwardly parallel to the upright and passing overthe small pulley and downwardly therefrom to a winch 310. The cable 305is maintained in position on the pulley 125 by the cover 128.

The winch 310 provided part of the motor mechanism for raising andlowering the carriage as hereinafter explained and includes, as seen inFIGS. 1 and 4, a housing 312 connected to the upright 110 by a tongue311, the housing 312 is further provided with a U-shaped handle or bar313 for aiding in moving the device 100 from place to place, theU-shaped handle 313 being suitably connected to the housing 312 bybolts. Inside the housing 312 there is provided a takeup drum 314rotatably mounted on an axle 315 suitably journaled in the housing 312;the winch 310 is further provided with arms 316 fixedly connected to theaxle 315 for rotation therewith, the arms 316 fixedly connected to theaxle 315 for rotation therewith, the arms 316 each carry on their outerends respectively knobs 317 for conveniently gripping the arms 316. Abrake 318 is positioned on the left-hand side of winch 310, as seen inFIG. 3, for preventing rotation of the drum 314 when the carriage 150has been vertically positioned at a desired point, the brake 318operating in the usual manner. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, thehousing 312 of the winch 310 rests on an arcuate bottom plate 321 fromwhich depends a vertical tongue 322, the vertical tongue 322 beingpositioned between two diagonally extending brace members 323. The bracemembers 323 provide support for the winch 310 and may be tubular inform,each having a vertical attachment flange 324 at the top thereofconnected to the tongue 322 by a bolt 325. The brace members 323 eachcarry at the bottom end thereof a lower vertical attachment flange 326having an aperture therein, each attachment flange 326 having anaperture therein, a bolt 328 and a pedal lock pin 329 to a respectiveupstanding anchor or flange 327 on the base 102, the pedal 329 extendinginwardly toward the center of the base and fixed by the bolt 328 againstvertical movement with respect to the base 102, for a purposehereinafter explained. As may be seen therefore, activation of the winch310 to raise the carriage 150 also raises the piston 300 by means of thecable 305 and the shaft 302.

As hereinbefore stated, certain parts of the device 100 are adapted torotate in a circular path and as shown before, the ball bearings 219provide for the rotation of the pulley with respect to the upright 110and the carriage 150. Certain portions of the hydraulic system 225rotate with the pulley 185 and to that end, as seen in FIG. 8, a block335 having therein a central aperture 336 is positioned around androtatable with respect thereto, the distal end of the housing 240, thehousing 240 being provided with grooves and O-rings 337 to prevent theescape of hydraulic fluid. The block 335 is prevented from movement awayfrom the housing 240 by means of a fastener 338 while the nut 247 on thethreaded portion 246 of the housing 240 and the washer 248 preventforward movement of the block 335 toward the annular plate 210. Theblock 335 further has therein a transverse aperture 339 extending fromthe central aperture 336 outwardly through the block 335, the aperture339 being in registry with the circular groove 243A in the housing 240,thereby to provide a passageway between the cylinder 230 and thetransverse aperture 339 of the block 335 for hydraulic fluid when thevalve 265 is in its operative position. Connected to the block 335 andin registry with the aperture 339 is a fitting 340 having at one endthereof a flexible hose 341 leading to a second fitting 342, thefittings 340 and 342 with the hose 342 providing communication betweenthe block 335 and hence the housing 240 with a cylinder 345.

The cylinder 345 includes a rear circuiar end plate 346 having in theupper end thereof, as seen in FIG. 8, a groove 347 which cooperates witha pin 348 and groove 347 cooperating to provide flexible alignment ofthe cylinder 345 with the block 335 as the block 335 and the cylinder345 rotate with the pulley 185. The rear end plate 346 carries on thecenter of the inner surface thereof a stop plate 339 in the form of adisc extending inwardly of the end plate 346, the stop plate 349 beingfor a purpose hereinafter to be explained. The cylinder 345 furtherincludes a tubular body 350 sealably connected to offset portion of theend plate 346 and a front end plate 351 also sealably secured to thetubular body 350, thereby to provide a closed cylinder 345. Within thecylinder 345 and slidable therewith is a piston 355 carrying therearoundan O-ring 356 to provide for sealing of the hydraulic fluid in thechamber defined between the end plate 346 and the piston 355.

There is further provided in the piston 355 a central aperture 357having an offset portion which carries therein atubular piston shaft358, the tubular piston shaft 358 having externally thereabout athreaded portion 359, the threaded portion 359 being longitudinallyspaced from the piston 355, and at the distal end of the tubular pistonshaft 358 there is provided a second piston 360 fixedly connected to theshaft 358, the piston 360 carrying O-ring 361 thereabout. The secondpiston 360 at the end of the tubular piston shaft 358 opposite thepiston 355 is carried in a second cylinder 365, the second cylinder 365is provided with suitable flanges 366 to position the shaft 358centrally within the cylinder 365 and an adjustment nut 367 ispositioned about the threaded portion 359 of the tubular shaft 358, theadjustment nut 367 to limit axial movement of the shaft 358 within thecylinder 365.

Disposed within the tubular piston shaft 358 is a rod 370, the rod 370carrying on its respective ends valve heads 371 and 373, on theleft-hand end of the shaft 358, as seen in FIG. 8, there is provided acoil spring 372 positioned between the valve head 371 and the adjacentend of the tubular piston shaft 358, the spring 372 serving to bias thevalve head 371 in an open position spaced from the valve seat formed] inthe piston 355, the spring 372 serving to bias the valve head 373 in aclosed position seated on the valve seat formed in the piston 360.Additionally, a spring 375 is positioned about the tubular piston shaft358 between the piston 355 and the front end plate 351 of the cylinder345, the spring 375 serving to bias the piston 355 toward the rear endplate 346 of the cylinder 345 and the stop plate 349 or disc carriedthereby.

With reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, the device 100 is provided with amovable arm 380, the movable arm 380 being positioned between the plates191 of the support frame 190 and including a channel-shaped memberhaving two spaced-apart parallel legs 381 interconnected by a web 382and at the forward end of the arm 380, as seen in FIG. 4, there isprovided an outwardly extending stop flange 383. The movable arm 380 isfurther provided with a rear hinge 385 sealably connected to the secondcylinder 365, the hinge 385 including a shaft 386 extendingtherethrough, thereby to provide pivotal movement between the arm 380and the cylinder 365. Attached to the crosspiece 194 of the supportframe 190 are two outwardly extending ears 388, each of the ears 388having therein an aperture, the aperture being aligned for receiving ashaft 389 extending transversely of the ears 388. Interconnecting theshaft 389 between the ears 388 and the shaft 386 of the rear hinge 385are two coil springs 390, the coil springs 390serving to bias themovable arm 380 into a drum-receiving position.

About the middle of the movable arm 380 are two transversely disposedtubular spacers 393, the spacers 393 serving to maintain the movable arm380 in position on a shaft 395, the

shaft 395 being rotatably journaled in the apertures 193 in theoutwardly extending arms 192 of the support frame 190, thereby topivotally mount the movable arm 380 in the support frame 190 at theouter ends of the arms 192. At the outermost end of the movable arm 380away from the frame 190 there are provided aligned apertures 397, oneaperture 397 being in each of the parallel legs 381 for receiving ashaft 398, the shaft 398 suitably secured in the aperture 397 thereby toprovide for pivotal movement with respect to the arm 380 of a movablejaw 400 carried by the shaft 398.

The movable jaw 401) is pivotable between a drum-receiving position asseen in F IG. 4, and a drum-gripping position as seen in FIG. 5, the jaw4410 including two parallel spaced-apart boomerang-shaped flanges 410interconnected by a bight 402, the bight 402 being arcuate to form anabutment surface 403. As may be seen therefore, the jaw 400 is pivotablewith respect to the movable arm 380 and the movable arm 380 is pivotablewith respect to the support 190.

There is also provided at the other side of the support 190 a stationaryarm 41!), the stationary arm 410 being positioned between the plates 191and including a channel-shaped member having two parallel spaced-apartlegs 411 interconnected by a web 412, and at the forward end of thestationary arm 410, as seen in FIG. 1, there is provided an outwardlyextending stop flange 413. The stationary arm 410 is further providedwith a rear hinge 415 having a shaft 416 extending therethrough.Attached to the crosspiece 194 of the support frame 190 are twooutwardly extending spaced-apart ears 418, each of the ears 418 havingtherein an aperture, the apertures being aligned for receiving a shaft419 extending transversely of the ears 418. Connected to the bottom ofthe shaft 419 is a coil spring 420, the coil spring 420 interconnectingthe shaft 416 of the rear hinge 415 with the crosspiece 194 of thesupport frame 190, the spring 420 serving to maintain the arm 410stationary. The shaft 419 extends through an attachment end of a rod 425being positioned transversely of the shaft 419 and extending outwardlyfrom the crosspiece 194, the rod 245 having a threaded portion and beingslidably positioned within a cylinder 426. An adjustment nut 427 foradjusting the outward extent of the rod 245 and the cylinder 426 isconnected to the cylinder 426 and is in threaded connection with the rod245, the cylinder 426 being suitably sealed to the hinge 415 of thestationary arm 410. The cooperation of the spring 420, the rod 425, thecylinder 426 and nut 427 serving to maintain stationary the arm 410.

About the middle of the stationary arm 410 there are provided twotransversely disposed tubular spacers 433 and a shaft 435 extendingtherethrough, the shaft 435 serving to mount the stationary arm 410between the anus 192 of the support frame 190. At the outermost end ofthe stationary arm 410 away from the frame 190, there are providedaligned apertures in the legs 411, one aperture being in each leg 411for receiving a shaft 438 therethrough for mounting thereon a jaw 440,the jaw 440 being pivotable with respect to the stationary arm 410. Thejaw 441i is channel-shaped in cross section and has two spaced-apartparallel boomerang-shaped flanges 441 interconnected by a bight 442, thebight 442 being arcuate to form an abutment surface 443. There isfurther provided a torsion spring 444 positioned about the shaft 438,the spring 444 serving to bias the pivotable jaw 440 into a drumreceiving position, as shown in FIG. 4.

As seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 10, tipping or tilting of the pulley andtherefore the arms 380 and 410 is provided in one direction by a pulleycable 450, the cable 450 being fixedly connected to the cable grip 117on the left boomerang-shaped am 116, as viewed in FIG. 2, the cable 450being looped once around the pulley 185 between the flange 187 and theside wall 186, the cable 451) being connected at its other end by a bolt451 to a longitudinally extending shaft 452, the shaft 452 being pivotedfor up-and-down movement with respect to the base 102 at 453 and beingpivoted for lateral movement with respect to the base 102 at 454. At theother end of the shaft 452 from the pivot 453 there is provided a footpedal 455, the

foot pedal 455 carried by an inwardly extending member 456 from theshaft 452. There is likewise provided a second pulley cable 460 similarin construction and attachment to the pulley cable 450, the cable 460being fixedly connected to the cable grip 117 on the rightboomerang-shaped arm 116, as viewed in FIG. 2, the cable 460 beinglooped once around the pulley 185 and residing in the other groovedefined by the flange 187 and the other sidewall 186, the cable 460 atits other end being suitably connected by a bolt 461 to a longitudinallyextending shaft 462 for vertical or up-and-down movement with respect tothe base 102 at 463 and being pivoted for lateral movement with respectto the base 102 at 463 and being pivoted for lateral movement withrespect to the base 102 at 464. At the other end of the shaft 462 is afoot pedal 465 carried by an inwardly extending member 466 of the shaft463.

The pulley cables 450 and 460 in combination with the winch 310 providefor rotational movement of the pulley 185 thereby to provide the tippingor tilting of a drum 475 held by the arms 380 and 410 and the respectivejaws 400 and 440 carried thereby.

In operation, the jaws 400 and 440 carried by the arms 380 and 410 arenormally biased into a drum-receiving position due to the action of thecoil springs 390 and 420 and the action of the torsion springs 444 asbest seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings, further outward movement of thejaws 400 and 440 being prevented by stops 383 and 413 on the arms 380and 410, respectively. An operator pushes the device 100 forward untilthe jaws 400 and 440 contact the drum 475 and pivot with respect theretountil the drum 475 rests against the drum rest 290 and the arms 400 and440 substantially encircle the drum 475. At this point, the valve 265 isin the open position due to the positioning of the stop plate 140 on theupright 110 to contact the shaft 275 when the carriage 150 is in itslowest position; thereafter the drum 475 is in position to be gripped bythe jaws 400 and 440 by activation of the hydraulic system 225 ashereinafter explained.

The hydraulic system is primed to introduce hydraulic fluid theretothrough the oil feed 225, the oil feed 255 providing by means of thevertical pipe 256 communication to the housing 240 and the cylinder 230.When a predetermined amount of hydraulic fluid has been admitted to thecylinder 230, the hydraulic system 225 is primed and ready foroperation, thereafter the cap 261 is fixed in place. Upon activation ofthe motor mechanism or winch 310, either by manually turning the arms315 or by using a motor (not shown), the cable 305 connected to the drum314 is wound thereof and thereby raises the piston shaft 302 and thepiston 300 connected thereto. Raising the piston 300 in the cylinder 230forces the hydraulic fluid out of the cylinder 230 through aperture 244therein and through aperture 241 in the housing 240 and into thecylinder 345 via the block 335, the fittings 340 and 342 and theflexible hose 341, provided that the safety valve 265 is in theoperative position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow therethrough.

Because of the spring 372, the valve head 371 is biased into an openposition away from the associated valve seat and the hydraulic fluidflowing into the cylinder 345 flows through the aperture 357 in thepiston 355 and through the hollow piston shaft 358 to contact the valvehead 373 at the other end of the shaft 358. When the hydraulic pressureis sufficient, the valve head 373 is moved into an open position awayfrom the corresponding valve seat in piston 360 to allow the hydraulicfluid to flow into the portion of the cylinder 365 between the piston360 and the hinge 385. Movement of the piston 355 due to the hydraulicfluid in the cylinder 345 at this point is prevented by the coil spring375 positioned between the piston 355 and the front end wall 351 of thecylinder 345, the coil spring 375 serving to bias the piston 355 againstforward movement thereof. As the hydraulic fluid flows into the cylinder365 between the piston 360 and the hinge 385, the cylinder 365 is movedaway from adjustment nut 367 thereby to move the rear end of the movablearm 380 outwardly away from the cylinder 345 and to pivot the movablearm 380 about the shaft 395 to move the forward end of the movable arm380 carrying thereon the jaw 400 into contact with the drum 475, theaction of the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder 365 providing a coarseadjustment of the jaw 400 against the drum 475, this being necessary dueto the irregularities in the circumferences of the various drums 475.After the cylinder 365 is filled with the hydraulic fluid, the valvehead 373 is forced into a seated position and no further hydraulic fluidis admitted through the tube 358 whereupon further admission of thehydraulic fluid into the cylinder 345 results in movement of the piston355 along the cylinder 345, thereby to compress the spring 375 andfurther move the movable arm 380 about the pivot shaft 395 into thedrum-gripping position, whereby the drum 475 is securely gripped betweenthe movable arm 380 and the stationary arm 410.

The stationary arm 410 is not hydraulically adjustable; however, the arm410 is provided with a coarse adjustment by means of the adjustment nut427. The shaft 425, the adjustment nut 427 and the cylinder 426operatively connected to the rear hinge 415 of the arm 410 andcooperating to prevent outward movement of the arm 410, the spring 420serving to prevent inward movement of the arm 410.

After a portion of the hydraulic fluid is forced out of the cylinder 230and into the cylinders 345 and 365, thereby to move the arms 380 and 410into the drum gripping position, further movement of the winch 310 willcause an upward vertical movement of the carriage 150 on the upright dueto the fact that the hydraulic fluid is incompressible. Upward slidingmovement of the carriage is facilitated by the rollers 162, 167, 172 and235 as hereinbefore explained. As the carriage 150 and the hydraulicsystem 225 is pulled upward by the winch 310, rotation of the pull cord376 as shown particularly in FIG. 11, will cause the stop pin 285 todisengage from the upturned flange 156 and because the gear segment 271is weighted, the gear segment 271 will rotate in a downward direction,thereby to cause rod 266 to rotate to move the aperture 268 out ofregistry with the aperture 241 closing the valve 265 to close. When thevalve 265 is closed, the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder 345 and thecylinder 365 is prevented from flowing out of the cylinders and into thecylinder 230 thereby to prevent premature release of the drum 475 by thearms 330 and 410 and the jaws 400 and '440 respectively carried thereby.As may be seen from FIG. 10, and as hereinbefore explained, the valvehas an open position only when the apertures 268 and 241 are in registryand after the aperture 268 is moved out of registry with the aperture241, the valve 265 is closed to prevent passage of the hydraulic fluidtherethrough. The stop pin 285 generally rests on the upstanding flange156 of the carriagel50 when the valve 265 is in the open position;however, it may manually be moved off of the flange 156 by means of thepull cord 276, it is herein noted that rotation of the pull cord 276, asshown by the arrow in FIG. 11, will not in and of itself cause the valve265 to move to a closed position due to the fact that the circularflanges 281 on the cylindrical member 280 do not form a wonn gearthereby resulting in movement of the gear section 271 upon rotation ofthe cylindrical member 280. Rotation of the cord 276 serves to move thestop pin 285 off of the flange 156 thereby to permit downward movementof the cylindrical member 280 which does result in the closing of thevalve 265. Once the valve 265 is closed, further movement of the arms380 and 410 and thereby the jaws 400 and 440 carried thereby isprevented. When the carriage 150 and thereby the housing 240, the pulleyand the arms 380 and 410 are in the desired position spaced from theground, rotation of the pulley 185 thereby to tilt or tip the drum 475for the emptying thereof is provided by means of the pulley cables 450and 460.

To rotate the drum 475 to the left as shown in FIG. 3, the left-handfoot pedal 465 carried by the shaft 462 is moved inwardly by means ofthe pivot at 464 and depressed underneath the pedal lock pin 329 bymeans of the pivot at 463, thereby to tighten the cable 460 around thepulley 185. After the cable 460 is tightened around the pulley 485,further upward movement of the carriage 150 along the upright 110 byactivation of the winch 310, will cause the pulley 185 to rotate to theleft as shown in FIG. 3, thereby to tip or tilt the drum 475. Loweringof the carriage 150 will then rotate the drum to the right and back toits normal vertical position, the stop member 189 extending transverselyof the pulley 185 and the stop plate 177 cooperating to prevent hepulley 185 from rotating beyond the normal vertical position. However,if it is desired to rotate the pulley 185 to the right, then the stopplate 177 is pivoted out of operative position, thereby to allowrotation of the pulley 185 to the right by activation of the right-handcable 450 and foot pedal 455, all as hereinbefore explained withreference to cable 460. It is seen therefore, that tipping or tilting ofthe drum 475 is provided by tightening one of the cables 450 or 460around the pulley 185 by activating the associated foot pedal 455 or 465coupled with a movement of the carriage 150 along the upright 110 byactivation of the motor means or winch 310. The drum 475 may be fixedagainst further vertical movement along the upright 110 at any point byeither activating the brake 318 or tightening both cables 450 and 460around the pulley 185, activation of the brake 318 being the preferredmethod.

Once the contents of the drum 475 have been emptied by theaforementioned tilting or tipping thereof, it may be desired to rest thedrum at an elevated position, such as on a ledge, a shelf or some othersupport. If the shelf is at an elevated position with respect to thedrum 475, then the brake 318 on the winch 310 may be released and thewinch 310 operated to further elevate the drum 475, as hereinbeforeexplained, to the desired height, conversely, if the shelf is at a lowerposition than the drum 475, the winch 310 may be operated in a reversedirection to lower the drum 475 to the desired height. Clearly, theentire device 100 may be wheeled by means of the caster assemblies 105and wheels 106 to the desired position relative to the shelf before thedrum 475 is positioned thereon; once the device 100 is in the properposition, activation of the wheel locks 109 will prevent furtherunwanted movement of the device 100. After the drum 475 is positioned onthe shelf, the jaws 400 and 440 will remain along with the arms 380 andin the drum-gripping position due to the position of the valve 265. Torelease the drum 475, the valve 265 is manually operated by means of thepull cord 276, the cylindrical member 280 and gear segment 271 to theopen position in which the aperture 268 in the valve 265 is in registrywith the registry with the aperture 241 in the housing 240, or Thevalve-release bracket 134 is set at a predetermined height in relationto the shelf to contact the valve shaft 275 and move to the openposition thereby to allow movement of the hydraulic fluid from thecylinders 365 and 345 into the cylinder 230.

When the valve 265 is in the open position, further reverse movement ofthe winch 310 results in movement of the piston 300 in the cylinder 230downwardly, thereby to provide a space for the hydraulic fluid in thecylinder 230. Since the movable arm 380 is normally biased to thedrum-receiving position by the coil springs 3% associated with the hinge385, there is force tending to move the cylinder 365 toward theadjustment nut 367 and coupled with this force is the action of thespring 375 tending to move the piston 355 toward the rear wall 346 ofthe cylinder 345. Upon release of the hydraulic fluid by the cooperationof the downward movement of the piston 300 in the cylinder 230 and theopening of the valve 265, hydraulic fluid flows out of the cylinder 345through the fitting 342 and hose 341 into the block 335 and therethroughthe housing 240 into the cylinder 230. The action of the spring 375serves to move the piston 355 to the left, as viewed in H6. 8, therebyto cause the valve head 371 to contact the stop disc or plate 349positioned on the rear wall 346 of the cylinder 345. Contact of thevalve head 371 on the stop disc or plate 349 serves to move the valvehead 373 on the opposite end of the rod 370 off of the associated valveseat in the piston 360, thereby to allow the hydraulic fluid in thecylinder 365 between the piston 360 and the hinge 385 to flow therefromthrough the tubular shaft 335 into the chamber formed between the piston355 and the rear wall 346 of the cylinder 345 and hence thereout throughthe aforementioned channel to the cylinder 230. It may be seentherefore, that it is the cooperation of the springs 390, the springs375 and 357, the valve 265 and the piston 300 which serves automaticallyto move the arm 380 into the drum-receiving position upon the release ofthe piston 300 by the winch 310, thereby to provide a space for thehydraulic fluid in the cylinder 230. The adjustment nut 367 limits theoutward movement of the arm 380 thereby to define the drum-receivingposition thereof, it being understood that the arms 380 and 410 rest onflte shelf supporting the drum 475 due to the release of the winch 310.

Simultaneously with the release of the hydraulic fluid from thecylinders 365 and 345, the torsion spring (not shown) associated withthe arm 380 and the torsion spring 444 associated with the arm 410 serveto bias the jaws 400 and 440 respectively into the drum-receivingposition, as shown in FIG. 4, whereby the device may be wheeled awayfrom the drum 475 leaving it in its elevated position, the valve 265having been manually closed so as to prevent the hydraulic fluid fromflowing out of the cylinder 230 and to cause the arm 380 to assume thedrum-gripping position upon further movement along the upright 1 10,thereby to allow the winch 310 to be activated to raise or lower thecarriage 150 without corresponding movement of the arm 380 to thedrum-gripping position so that the jaws and arms will remain in thedrumreceiving position to close around another drum at the same or at adifferent elevated position as the drum just released. it may be seentherefore, that by manual operation of the valve 265 it is possible tomaintain the arms and jaws in either the drum-gripping position or thedrum-receiving position irrespective of whether the carriage 150 isslidably moved up and down along the upright 110.

As hereinbefore stated, the tipping or tilting of the drum 475 isprovided by rotation of the pulley 185, the pulley 185 being rotatablewith respect to the upright by means of the ball bearings 219 positionedbetween the ball races 197 and 204 and the ball races 198 and 214thereby to permit rotation of the pulley 185, the movable arm 380 andstationary arm 410 connected thereto. Rotation of certain portions ofthe hydraulic system 225 with the pulley 185 is provided by means of theblock 335 which is rotatable around the circular portion of the housing240 thereby to permit rotation of the block 335, the fittings 340 and342, the flexible hose 341, the cylinders 345 and 365 with the pulley185. Movement of the cylinder 345 in response to movement of the movableann 380 from the drum-receiving position to the drum-gripping positionis provided for by the groove 347 in the rear plate 346 of the cylinder345 and the corresponding pin 348 in the block 335, thereby to providefor some lateral movement of the cylinder 345 with respect to the block335.

As may be seen therefore, there has been provided a device 100 forlifting and tipping or tilting articles or drums 475, the device 101comprising a base 101, an upright 110 supported on the base 101, acarriage member slidable on the upright 110 for up and down slidingmovement therealong, a first jaw 400 mounted on a movable arm 380connected to the carriage 150, the first jaw 400 being pivotable betweena drum-receiving position and a drum-gripping position, hydraulic motormeans including the cylinder 230 and piston 300 for moving the movablearm 389 and thereby the first jaw 400 moving the movable arm 380 andthereby the first jaw 400 mounted thereon into the drum-grippingposition, the hydraulic motor means further including a cylinder 345having therein a piston 355 for sliding movement therewithin, a cylinder365 having therein a piston 360 for sliding movement therewithin, thecylinder 365 being operatively connected to the movable arm 380, thehollow stem 358 interconnecting the cylinder 345 with the cylinder 365and the piston 355 with the piston 360, and a valve including the rod370 and valve heads 37] and 373 disposed in the hollow stem 358 forcontrolling the flow of hydraulic fluid between the cylinder 345 and thecylinder 365, whereby fluid entering the cylinder 34S when the valve isopen flows through the stem 358 into the cylinder 365 to move themovable arm 380 into contact with the drum 475 and to fill the cylinder365 with fluid whereby the valve closes and the fluid entering the firstcylinder 345 moves the piston 355 therewithin and thereby the cylinder365 to move the movable arm 380 and the jaw 400 carried thereby into thedrum-gripping position, a jaw 440 mounted on a fixed arm 410 connectedto the carriage 150, the jaw 440 being pivotable between adrum-receiving position and a drum-gripping position, the jaw 400 andthe jaw 440 in the drum-gripping position securely gripping andsubstantially encircling the drum 475, motor mechanism including thewinch 310 connected to the carriage 150 for raising and lowering thecarriage 150 and the jaws 400 and 440 connected thereto along theupright 110 and means including the pulley 185 for tilting or tippingthe jaws 4G0 and 440 and the drum 475 gripped thereby.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for lifting and tipping or tilting articles, said devicecomprising a base, an upright supported on said base, a carriage memberslidable on said upright for up-and-down sliding movement therealong, anarticle-gripping member connected to said carriage and movable betweenan articlereceiving position wherein said article-gripping member is inposition to receive an article and an article-gripping position whereinsaid article-gripping member is in position securely to grip thearticle, hydraulic means for activating said articlegripping member fromsaid aniclereceiving position thereof to said article-gripping positionthereof, motor mechanism including a winch and a cable connected to saidcarriage for raising and lowering said carriage and saidarticle-gripping member, activation of said winch to raise saidarticle-gripping member causing activation of said hydraulic mechanismto move said article-gripping member from said article-receivingposition thereof to said article-gripping position thereof, means fortilting or tipping said articlegripping member and the article grippedthereby responsive to activation of said winch, and means forselectively operating said tilting or tipping means, whereby activationof said winch and hence said hydraulic means results in lifting of thearticle gripped by said article-gripping member and activation of saidwinch and hence said hydraulic means in combination with selectiveactivation of said tilting or tipping means results in simultaneouslifting of the article and tipping or tilting the same.

2. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein said upright comprises aplurality of telescoping sections adapted to be fixedly secured in anend-to-end relationship.

3. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein said carriage includesrollers engaging said upright for facilitating sliding movement of saidcarriage up and down said upright.

4. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for tilting,tipping or rotating the article-supporting member include a pulleyrotatably secured to said carriage for rotation with respect thereto,said pulley being slidable with said carriage for sliding up-and-downmovement along said upright, and a cable operatively connected to saidpulley and said base, said cable adapted to be tightened about saidpulley, thereby to rotate said pulley for tilting saidarticle-supporting member in response to subsequent movement of saidcarriage along said upright.

5. A device for lifting and tipping or tilting drums, said devicecomprising a base, an upright supported on said base, a carriage memberslidable on said upright for up-and-down sliding movement therealong,two jaws connected to said carriage, said jaws being pivotable between adrum-receiving position and a drum-gripping position, hydraulic motormeans for moving at least one of said jaws into said drum-grippingposition, said jaws in said drum-gripping position securely gripping andsubstantially encircling the drum, motor mechanism including ahand-operated winch connected to said carriage for raising and loweringsaid carriage and said jaws, said hydraulic motor means being operatedupon activation of said motor mechanism to raise said carriage alongsaid upright, and means for tilting or tipping said jaws and the drumgripped thereby, said tilting or tipping means being selectivelyoperable so as to permit said carriage to be raised without tilting ortipping said jaws and to permit said carriage to be raised along saidupright while simultaneously tilting or tipping said jaws.

6. The device as wet forth in claim 5, wherein said jaws each include anarcuate inner surface, said surfaces substantially conforming to theouter surface of the drum gripped thereby.

7. The device set forth in claim 5 and further including springmechanism for biasing said jaws into said drum-receiving position.

8. The device set forth in claim 5, wherein said hydraulic motor meansare carried by said carriage member and are slidable therewith forup-and-down movement along said upright.

9. The device as set forth in claim 5 wherein a certain portion of saidhydraulic motor means is carried by said carriage member and is slidabletherewith for up-and-down sliding movement along said upright, and acertain portion of said 10. A device for lifting and tipping or tiltingdrums or other articles, said device comprising a base, an uprightsupported on said base, a carriage member slidable on said upright forup-and-down movement therealong, two jaws connected to said carriage,said jaws being pivotable between a drumreceiving position and adrum-gripping position, hydraulic motor means for moving at least one ofsaid jaws into said drum-gripping position, said jaws in saiddrum-gripping position securely gripping and substantially encirclingthe drum, motor mechanism connected to said carriage for raising and andlowering said carriage and said jaws, a safety valve as sociated withsaid hydraulic motor means for preventing premature release of said jawsfrom said drum-gripping position, thereby to prevent unintentionalrelease of the drum, and means for tilting and tipping said jaws and thedrum gripped thereby, said tilting and tipping means including at leastone foot pedal selectively connectable to said motor mechanism to permitselective operation of said foot pedal and thereby said tilting andtipping means during operation of said motor mechanism resulting insimultaneous movement of said car riage along said upright and rotationof said carriage so as to tip or tilt said jaws and the drum grippedthereby.

11. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said safety valve isautomatically activated upon the raising of the drum by operation ofsaid motor mechanism.

12. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said safety valve isautomatically activated upon the raising of the drum by operation ofsaid motor mechanism, and further compris ing means for operating saidsafety valve when the drum is raised off the ground to permit movementof said jaws from said drum-gripping position to said drum-receivingposition.

13. The device set forth in claim 10, wherein said safety valve isadapted automatically to release when said carriage is at the lowestpoint of travel along said upright.

14. A device for lifting and tipping or tilting drums, said devicecomprising a base, an upright supported on said base, a carriage memberslidable on said upright for up-and-down sliding movement therealong, afirst jaw mounted on a movable arm connected to said carriage, saidfirst jaw being pivotable between a drum-receiving position and adrum-gripping position, hydraulic motor means for moving said movablearm and thereby said first jaw mounted thereon into said drumgrippingposition, a first cylinder and piston, said first piston being adaptedfor sliding movement within said first cylinder, said first cylinderbeing fixedly connected to said carriage for up-and-down slidingmovement therewith along said upright, said first piston beingoperatively connected to said motor mechanism, a second cylinder andpiston operatively connected to said first cylinder, said second pistonbeing operatively connected to said movable arm and being adapted forsliding movement within said second cylinder, a second jaw mounted on afixed arm connected to said carriage, said second jaw being pivotablebetween a drum-receiving position and a drum-gripping position securelygripping and substantially encircling the drum, motor mechanismconnected to said carriage for raising and lowering said carriage andsaid jaws connected thereto, and means for tilting or tipping said jawsand the drum gripped thereby, said second cylinder being connected tosaid means for tilting said jaws for tilting movement therewith,activation of said motor mechanism to move said carriage upward alongsaid upright moving said first piston upwards in said cylinder therebyto force hydraulic fluid therein into said second cylinder to move saidsecond piston and thereby said movable arm and said jaw mounted thereoninto said drum-gripping position.

15. The device as set forth in claim 14 and further comprising springmeans associated with said movable arm to bias said movable arm awayfrom said drum-gripping position.

16. The device set forth in claim 14, and further comprising springmeans associated with said jaws to bias said jaws into saiddrum-receiving position.

17. The device as set forth in claim 14, and further comprising meansfor hydraulically adjusting said movable arm to move said jaw mountedthereon into abutting relationship with the drum prior to moving saidmovable arm and said jaw mounted thereon into said drum-grippingposition.

18. A device for lifting and tipping or tilting drums, said devicecomprising a base, an upright supported on said. base, a carriage memberslidable on said upright for up-and-downsliding movement therealong, afirst jaw mounted on a movable arm connected to said carriage, saidfirst jaw being pivotable between a drum-receiving position and adrum-gripping position, hydraulic motor means for moving said movablearm and thereby said first jaw mounted thereon into said drumgrippingposition, said hydraulic motor means including a first cylinder havingtherein a first piston for sliding movement therewithin, a secondcylinder having therein a second piston for sliding movementtherewithin, said second cylinder being operatively connected to saidmovable arm, a hollow stern interconnecting said first and secondcylinders and said first and second pistons, and a valve disposed insaid hollow stern for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid betweensaid first and second cylinders, whereby fluid entering said firstcylinder when said valve is open flows through said stem into saidsecond cylinder to move said movable arm into contact with the drum andto fill said second cylinder with fluid whereby said valve closes andfluid entering said first cylinder moves said first piston therewithinand thereby said second cylinder to move said movable arm and said jawcarried thereby into said drum-gripping position, a second jaw mountedon a fixed arm connected to said carriage, said second jaw beingpivotable between a drum-receiving position and a drum-grippingposition, said first jaw and said second jaw in aid drumgrippingposition securely gripping and substantially encircling the drum, motormechanism connected to said carriage for raising and lowering saidcarriage and said jaws connected thereto, and means for tilting ortipping said jaws and the drum gripped thereby.

19. A device for lifting and tipping or tilting articles, said devicecomprising a base, an upright supported on said base, a carriage memberslidable on said upright for up-and-down sliding movement therealong, anarticle-gripping member connected to said carriage, said gripping memberbeing hydraulically adjustable securely to grip the article, mechanismconnected to said carriage for raising and lowering said carriage andsaid article-gripping member, and means for tilting or tipping saidarticle member and the article gripped thereby, said means, including apulley rotatably secured to said carriage for rotation with respectthereto, said pulley being slidable with said carriage along saidupright, two foot pedals supported on said base, two cables disposedabout said pulley, each of said cable being fixedly connected to one ofsaid foot pedals and to said upright, said foot pedals being movable totighten the associated one of said cables around said pulley, wherebyrotation of said pulley in response to the tightening of one of saidcables about said pulley and subsequent movement of said carriage alongsaid upright tilts the article gripped in said hydraulically adjustablearticle-gripping member.

20. A device for lifting and tipping or tilting drums or other articles,said device comprising a base, an upright supported on said base, acarriage member slidable on said upright for up-and-down slidingmovement therealong, two jaws connected to said carriage, said jawsbeing pivotable between a drum-receiving position and a drum-grippingposition, hydraulic motor means for moving at least one of said jawsinto said drum-gripping position, said jaws in said drumgrippingposition securely gripping and substantially encircling the drum, motormechanism connected to said carriage for raising and lowering saidcarriage and said jaws, a safety valve associated with said hydraulicmotor means for prevent ing premature release of said jaws from saiddrum-gripping position and including a gear segment associated with acylindrical member having thereon circular spaced-apart flanges forcooperation with said gear segment whereby up-and-down movement of saidcylindrical member moves the gear segment in an arc, thereby to operatesaid safety valve.

1. A device for lifting and tipping or tilting articles, said devicecomprising a base, an upright supported on said base, a carriage memberslidable on said upright for up-and-down sliding movement therealong, anarticle-gripping member connected to said carriage and movable betweenan article-receiving position wherein said article-gripping member is inposition to receive an article and an article-gripping position whereinsaid articlegripping member is in position securely to grip the article,hydraulic means for activating said article-gripping member from saidarticle-receiving position thereof to said article-gripping positionthereof, motor mechanism including a winch and a cable connected to saidcarriage for raising and lowering said carriage and saidarticle-gripping member, activation of said winch to raise saidarticle-gripping member causing activation of said hydraulic mechanismto move said article-gripping member from said article-receivingposition thereof to said article-gripping position thereof, means fortilting or tipping said articlegripping member and the article grippedthereby responsive to activation of said winch, and means forselectively operating said tilting or tipping means, whereby activationof said winch and hence said hydraulic means results in lifting of thearticle gripped by said article-gripping member and activation of saidwinch and hence said hydraulic means in combination with selectiveactivation of said tilting or tipping means results in simultaneouslifting of the article and tipping or tilting the same.
 2. The deviceset forth in claim 1, wherein said upright comprises a plurality oftelescoping sections adapted to be fixedly secured in an end-to-endrelationship.
 3. The device set forth in claim 1, wherein said carriageincludes rollers engaging said upright for facilitating sliding movementof said carriage up and down said upright.
 4. The device set forth inclaim 1, wherein said means for tilting, tipping or rotating thearticle-supporting member include a pulley rotatably secured to saidcarriage for rotation with respect thereto, said pulley being slidablewith said carriage for sliding up-and-down movement along said upright,and a cable operatively connected to said pulley and said base, saidcable adapted to be tightened about said pulley, thereby to rotate saidpulley for tilting said article-supporting member in response tosubsequent movement of said carriage along said upright.
 5. A device forlifting and tipping or tilting drums, said device comprising a base, anupright supported on said base, a carriage member slidable on saidupright for up-and-down sliding movement therealong, two jaws connectedto said carriage, said jaws being pivotable between a drum-receivingposition and a drum-gripping position, hydraulic motor means for movingat least one of said jaws into said drum-gripping position, said jaws insaid drum-gripping position securely gripping and substantiallyencircling the drum, motor mechanism including a hand-operated winchconnected to said carriage for raising and lowering said carriage andsaid jaws, said hydraulic motor means being operated upon activation ofsaid motor mechanism to raise said carriage along said upright, andmeans for tilting or tipping said jaws and the drum gripped thereby,said tilting or tipping means being selectively operable so as to permitsaid carriage to be raised without tilting or tipping said jaws and topermit said carriage to be raised along said upright whilesimultaneously tilting or tipping said jaws.
 6. The device as set forthin claim 5, wherein said jaws each include an arcuate inner surface,said surfaces substantially conforming to the outer surface of the drumgripped thereby.
 7. The device set forth in claim 5 and furtherincluding spring mechanism for biasing said jaws into saiddrum-receiving position.
 8. The device set forth in claim 5, whereinsaid hydraulic motor means are carried by said carriage member and areslidable therewith for up-and-down movement along said upright.
 9. Thedevice as set forth in claim 5 wherein a certain portion of saidhydraulic motor means is carried by said carriage member and is slidabletherewith for up-and-down sliding movement along said upright, and acertain portion of said hydraulic motor means is carried by said tiltingmeans and is tiltable therewith for rotational movement with respect tosaid upright.
 10. A device for lifting and tipping or tilting drums orother articles, said device comprising a base, an upright supported onsaid base, a carriage member slidable on said upright for up-and-downmovement therealong, two jaws connected to said carriage, said jawsbeing pivotable between a drum-receiving position and a drum-grippingposition, hydraulic motor means for moving at least one of said jawsinto said drum-gripping position, said jaws in said drum-grippingposition securely gripping and substantially encircling the drum, motormechanism connected to said carriage for raising and and lowering saidcarriage and said jaws, a safety valve associated with said hydraulicmotor means for preventing premature release of said jaws from saiddrum-gripping position, thereby to prevent unintentional release of thedrum, and means for tilting and tipping said jaws and the drum grippedthereby, said tilting and tipping means including at least one footpedal selectively connectable to said motor mechanism to permitselective operation of said foot pedal and thereby said tilting andtipping means during operation of said motor mechanism resulting insimultaneous movement of said carriage along said upright and rotationof said carriage so as to tip or tilt said jaws and the drum grippedthereby.
 11. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said safetyvalve is automatically activated upon the raising of the drum byoperation of said motor mechanism.
 12. The device as set forth in claim10, wherein said safety valve is automatically activated upon theraising of the drum by operation of said motor mechanism, and furthercomprising means for operating said safety valve when the drum is raisedoff the ground to permit movement of said jaws from said drum-grippingposition to said drum-receiving position.
 13. The device set forth inclaim 10, wherein said safety valve is adapted automatically to releasewhen said carriage is at the lowest point of travel along said upright.14. A device for lifting and tipping or tilting drums, said devicecomprising a base, an upright supported on said base, a carriage memberslidable on said upright for up-and-down sliding movement therealong, afirst jaw mounted on a movable arm connected to said carriage, saidfirst jaw being pivotable between a drum-receiving position and adrum-gripping position, hydraulic motor means for moving said movablearm and thereby said first jaw mounted thereon into said drum-grippingposition, a first cylinder and piston, said first piston being adaptedfor sliding movement within said first cylinder, said first cylinderbeing fixedly connected to said carriage for up-and-down slidingmovement therewith along said upright, said first piston beingoperatively connected to said motor mechanism, a second cylinder andpiston operatively connected to said first cylinder, said second pistonbeing operatively connected to said movable arm and being adapted forsliding movement within said second cylinder, a second jaw mounted on afixed arm connected to said carriage, said second jaw being pivotablebetween a drum-receiving position and a drum-gripping position, saidfirst jaw and said second jaw in said drum-gripping position securelygripping and substantially encircling the drum, motor mechanismconnected to said carriage for raising and lowering said carriage andsaid jaws connected thereto, and means for tilting or tipping said jawsand the drum gripped thereby, said second cylinder being connected tosaid means for tilting said jaws for tilting movement therewith,activation of said motor mechanism to move said carriage upward alongsaid upright moving said first piston upwards in said cylinder therebyto force hydraulic fluid therein into said second cylinder to move saidsecond piston and thereby said movable arm and said jaw mounted thereoninto said drum-gripping position.
 15. The device as set forth in claim14 and further comprising spring means associated with said movable armto bias said movable arm away from said drum-gripping position.
 16. Thedevice set forth in claim 14, and further comprising spring meansassociated with said jaws to bias said jaws into said drum-receivingposition.
 17. The device as set forth in claim 14, and furthercomprising means for hydraulically adjusting said movable arm to movesaid jaw mounted thereon into abutting relationship with the drum priorto moving said movable arm and said jaw mounted thereon into saiddrum-gripping position.
 18. A device for lifting and tipping or tiltingdrums, said device comprising a base, an upright supported on said base,a carriage member slidable on said upright for up-and-down-slidingmovement therealong, a first jaw mounted on a movable arm connected tosaid carriage, said first jaw being pivotable between a drum-receivingposition and a drum-gripping position, hydraulic motor means for movingsaid movable arm and thereby said first jaw mounted thereon into saiddrum-gripping position, said hydraulic motor means including a firstcylinder having therein a first piston for sliding movement therewithin,a second cylinder having therein a second piston for sliding movementtherewithin, said second cylinder being operatively connected to saidmovable arm, a hollow stem interconnecting said first and secondcylinders and said first and second pistons, and a valve disposed insaid hollow stem for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid betweensaid first and second cylinders, whereby fluid entering said firstcylinder when said valve is open flows through said stem into saidsecond cylinder to move said movable arm into contact with the drum andto fill said second cylinder with fluid whereby said valve closes andfluid entering said first cylinder moves said first piston therewithinand thereby said second cylinder to move said movable arm and said jawcarried thereby into said drum-gripping position, a second jaw mountedon a fixed arm Connected to said carriage, said second jaw beingpivotable between a drum-receiving position and a drum-grippingposition, said first jaw and said second jaw in aid drum-grippingposition securely gripping and substantially encircling the drum, motormechanism connected to said carriage for raising and lowering saidcarriage and said jaws connected thereto, and means for tilting ortipping said jaws and the drum gripped thereby.
 19. A device for liftingand tipping or tilting articles, said device comprising a base, anupright supported on said base, a carriage member slidable on saidupright for up-and-down sliding movement therealong, an article-grippingmember connected to said carriage, said gripping member beinghydraulically adjustable securely to grip the article, mechanismconnected to said carriage for raising and lowering said carriage andsaid article-gripping member, and means for tilting or tipping saidarticle-gripping member and the article gripped thereby, said means,including a pulley rotatably secured to said carriage for rotation withrespect thereto, said pulley being slidable with said carriage alongsaid upright, two foot pedals supported on said base, two cablesdisposed about said pulley, each of said cables being fixedly connectedto one of said foot pedals and to said upright, said foot pedals beingmovable to tighten the associated one of said cables around said pulley,whereby rotation of said pulley in response to the tightening of one ofsaid cables about said pulley and subsequent movement of said carriagealong said upright tilts the article gripped in said hydraulicallyadjustable article-gripping member.
 20. A device for lifting and tippingor tilting drums or other articles, said device comprising a base, anupright supported on said base, a carriage member slidable on saidupright for up-and-down sliding movement therealong, two jaws connectedto said carriage, said jaws being pivotable between a drum-receivingposition and a drum-gripping position, hydraulic motor means for movingat least one of said jaws into said drum-gripping position, said jaws insaid drum-gripping position securely gripping and substantiallyencircling the drum, motor mechanism connected to said carriage forraising and lowering said carriage and said jaws, a safety valveassociated with said hydraulic motor means for preventing prematurerelease of said jaws from said drum-gripping position and including agear segment associated with a cylindrical member having thereoncircular spaced-apart flanges for cooperation with said gear segmentwhereby up-and-down movement of said cylindrical member moves the gearsegment in an arc, thereby to operate said safety valve.